Woman killed by extreme allergy to L'Oreal hair dye

A mother died after suffering a severe allergic reaction caused by L’Oreal hair dye, an inquest heard yesterday. Julie McCabe, 39, was rinsing out the dye when she ‘screamed loudly’ and gasped at her husband: ‘I’m struggling to breathe, I think I’m going to die.’

She fell into a coma and died 12 months later in hospital without regaining consciousness.

Mrs McCabe, an estate agent, coloured her hair dark brown every month despite a long history of low-grade allergic reactions to the dye, the inquest at Skipton, North Yorkshire was told.

She went to her local health centre 16 to 20 times in six years because of the issue and suffered at least ten allergic reactions to hair dye products.

Doctors prescribed a cream to rub into her skin and scalp which dealt with the minor rashes and itchiness. None of the GPs believed her life could be in danger from her allergy.

Yet she suffered an anaphylactic reaction, in what her doctor described as a ‘unique’ incident that led to fatal brain damage.

The incident happened in October 2011. Mrs McCabe remained in a coma and died in November 2012. The cause of death was given as cardiorespiratory arrest as a result of severe brain damage.

Brian Lightfoot, a chemist from L’Oreal, said the chemical para-phenylenediamine in the dye used by Mrs McCabe comprised just 1 per cent of the substance put into her hair.

He said the incident was reported to the authorities as soon as the company was told about it. The inquest continues. The coroner, Geoff Fell, said he believed it was only the second death in the UK resulting from hair colourant.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter